KT Corporation, South Korea’s largest telephone company, has completed the construction of Rwanda’s nationwide LTE network, the first in Africa, as part of its efforts to boost global exports in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).

KT celebrated the completion of Rwanda’s 4G LTE network at the Transform Africa Summit 2018, Africa’s largest ICT conference, which was held May 7-10 in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

Addressing the summit on the landmark project, Yun Kyoung-Lim, President of KT Global Business Office, said that its completion represents a momentous stride in realizing ‘Smart Rwanda’ and the country’s Fourth Industrial Revolution.

With the completion of Africa’s first nationwide LTE network, 95 percent of the Rwandan people now have access to high-speed wireless broadband service. Rwanda has a population of about 12 million and 8.6 million people subscribe to mobile services, of which 1.15 million use smartphones.

The Rwandan government expects the faster mobile communication network will help improve the quality of life of the Rwandan people. The nationwide 4G coverage has been completed in the three and a half years since KT Rwanda Networks (KTRN), a joint venture between KT and the Rwandan government, launched commercial services from Kigali in November 2014.

“Our government will continue to offer all possible support so that the network will improve the quality of people’s lives in many ways,” said the Republic of Rwanda’s Minister of Information Technology and Communication, Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa.

KTRN has drawn attention as an outstanding example of public-private partnership. KT expects it will serve as a springboard for increased cooperation with other African countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, Benin and Senegal.